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22Jun2018
4 Ways to get you Started as a Human Centred Designer

We are all designers in one way or another, no matter what field we’re in.

Every area of expertise requires a level of design to allow not just a product to develop, but technology and society as a whole to grow together. Human Centred Design is about challenging the perceived norms by using the design process to identify further needs required by the public and adapting products and processes around these needs. Design is a vital part of human nature and growth and human centred design is at the heart of this. Therefore, becoming a human centred designer requires a unique mindset and a go-forward attitude, among many other skills.

Here are 4 key ways to get started and allow you to succeed as a Human Centred Designer:

1. Cultivate those mindsets.

If you want to be a human centred designer, the first thing to do is to cultivate those mindsets. Approaching any situation with empathy, experimentation, an open mind and a spirit of collaboration, will help you find the right solution.

2. Challenge assumptions.

It’s easy to assume what the solution to a problem could be, but doing that limits our scope for innovation. Next time you are faced with a problem, try to explore different possibilities, test them and see what works. Talk to people and try to get to the real problem at hand; there’s almost always more to the story than what you first believed.

3. Observe the world around you.

We live in a fast-paced world. It’s important to stop and look around, observe and absorb. Being curious, reflecting on our experiences, and constantly learning new things helps us make better connections and feeds our creative output.

4. Learn the ways of designers.

Designers have mastered lateral thinking; they are the ones who defined and developed the system behind Human Centred Design. Taking a design course will equip you with the technical and cognitive tools you need to start your journey as a human centred designer.